Trevor Stephan

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Trevor Stephan

|position = Pitcher

|team = Cleveland Guardians

|image = Trevor Stephan (51267119567) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Stephan with the Cleveland Indians in 2021

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|number = 37

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|11|25}}

|birth_place = Austin, Texas, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 3

|debutyear = 2021

|debutteam = Cleveland Indians

|statyear = 2023 season

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 16–13

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.73

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 232

|teams =

Cleveland Indians / Guardians ({{mlby|2021}}–{{mlby|2023}})

}}

Trevor Richard Stephan ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|t|ɛ|f|ɪ|n}} {{respell|STEF|in}};{{cite web|url=https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/Archives/2019%20Media%20Guides/League%20Publications/2019%20Player%20Name%20Preferences%20and%20Pronunciation%20Guide.pdf|title=Major League Baseball 2019 Player Name Presentation Preferences and Pronunciations (New York Yankees page)}} born November 25, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball (MLB). Stephan played college baseball for Hill College and the University of Arkansas.

The New York Yankees selected Stephan in the third round of the 2017 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2021.

Amateur career

Stephan attended Magnolia West High School in Magnolia, Texas.{{cite web|last=Tate |first=Rob |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/magnolia/sports/article/ALUMNI-NOTEBOOK-Former-Magnolia-West-pitcher-11137353.php |title=ALUMNI NOTEBOOK: Former Magnolia West pitcher Stephan honored by SEC – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=May 10, 2017 |accessdate=April 6, 2018}} A three-year varsity starter for the baseball team, sophomore through his senior season. He played as a third baseman or first baseman and was the cleanup hitter in the batting order.{{cite web|last=McDaniel |first=Jason |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/sports/article/Baseball-Playoffs-are-goal-for-Mustangs-4348184.php |title=Baseball: Playoffs are goal for Mustangs – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=March 12, 2013 |accessdate=April 27, 2018}} In the last half of his high school senior season he was also used as a closing pitcher.{{cite web|last=McDaniel |first=Jason |url= https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/woodlands/sports/article/Mustang-alums-get-Major-League-call-8131555.php |title= Mustang alums get Major League call – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=June 14, 2016 |accessdate=April 27, 2018}}

After graduating from Magnolia West, Stephan enrolled at Hill College. He played college baseball at Hill College as a pitcher for two years. In his freshman year, Stephan had a 0–1 win–loss record, 6.57 earned run average (ERA), and 19 strikeouts while pitching {{frac|12|1|3}} total innings. Stephan was primarily used as a closing pitcher or late inning stopper in his sophomore year, amassing 29 appearances for second most nationally of all NJCAA D1 baseball pitchers in the 2016 season.{{cite web|url=http://njcaa.org/sports/bsb/2015-16/div1/players?sort=pgp&view=&pos=p&r=0 |title=NTJCAC Baseball All-Conference Team |publisher=njcaa.org |date=July 1, 2016 |accessdate=April 27, 2018}} He posted an 8–1 win–loss record, a 2.88 ERA, five saves, and 88 strikeouts in {{frac|68|2|3}} innings pitched earning NTJCAC first team All-Conference honors.{{cite web|url=http://njcaaregion5.com/sports/bsb/2015-16/releases/20160523x2soxz/ |title=NTJCAC Baseball All-Conference Team |publisher=njcaaregion5.com |date=May 23, 2016 |accessdate=April 27, 2018}}

File:Trevor Stephan, Arkansas Razorback Baseball (cropped).jpg

The Boston Red Sox selected Stephan in the 18th round, with the 538th overall selection, of the 2016 MLB draft. He negotiated with the Red Sox, but opted not to sign with them,{{cite web|author=UA signees drafted |url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/jul/11/red-sox-draft-pick-will-attend-arkansas/ |title=Red Sox draft pick will attend Arkansas |publisher=Arkansasonline.com |date=July 11, 2016 |accessdate=April 6, 2018}} and instead transferred to the University of Arkansas.{{cite web|last=Hoch |first=Bryan |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-draftee-trevor-stephan-passed-on-sox/c-236307290 |title=Yankees draftee Trevor Stephan passed on Sox |work=MLB.com |date=January 20, 2016 |accessdate=April 6, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jun/02/lessons-learned-20170602/ |title=Lessons learned: Stephan shines for Hogs after spurning Boston Red Sox |publisher=Arkansasonline.com |date= June 2, 2017|accessdate=April 6, 2018}} Pitching for the Arkansas Razorbacks in 2017, Stephan had a 6–3 win–loss record, a 2.87 earned run average, and 120 strikeouts in 91 innings pitched across 16 games started. His 120 strikeouts rank 5th and his 11.87 strikeouts per nine innings ranks 2nd in University of Arkansas baseball single season history.{{cite web| url=http://www.arkansasrazorbacks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/2018-Arkansas-Baseball-Media-Guide-FULL-PDF.pdf| title=2018 Season Media Guide |publisher= arkansasrazorbacks.com |date=Feb 1, 2018 |accessdate=April 28, 2018}} On May 9, 2017, the Southeastern Conference named Stephan their Pitcher of the Week.

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

The New York Yankees selected Stephan in the third round, with the 92nd overall selection, of the 2017 MLB draft.{{cite web|last=Poorman |first=Jon |url=https://www.chron.com/neighborhood/magnolia/sports/article/MLB-Mag-West-s-Stephan-leads-Montgomery-County-11220846.php |title=MLB: Mag West's Stephan leads Montgomery County draft selections – Houston Chronicle |publisher=Chron.com |date=June 14, 2017 |accessdate=April 6, 2018}} and he signed for $800,000.{{cite web|last=Adler |first=David |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-agree-with-draft-pick-trevor-stephan/c-236821250 |title=Yankees agree with Draft pick Trevor Stephan |work=MLB.com |date=January 20, 2016 |accessdate=April 6, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/jun/17/stephan-signs-with-yankees-20170617/ |title=Stephan signs with Yankees |publisher=Arkansasonline.com |date=June 17, 2017 |accessdate=April 6, 2018}} After signing, Stephan made his professional debut for the Gulf Coast Yankees of the rookie–level Gulf Coast League. After one game, he was promoted to the Staten Island Yankees of the Low–A New York-Penn League,{{cite web|url=http://www.silive.com/siyankees/index.ssf/2017/08/dominant_starting_pitching_fue.html |title=Dominant starting pitching fueling Staten Island Yankees' recent success |publisher=SILive.com |date=August 20, 2017 |accessdate=April 6, 2018}} where he spent the remainder of the season, going 1–1 with a 1.39 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in ten games (nine starts).{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/trevor-stephan-663986|title=Trevor Stephan Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 1, 2018}}

Stephan began the 2018 season with the Tampa Tarpons of the High–A Florida State League. He had a 1.98 ERA in 41 innings with 49 strikeouts to nine walks. The Yankees promoted him to the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League in May.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2018/05/27/one-of-yankees-risky-draft-plays-is-about-to-pay-off/|title = One of Yankees' risky draft plays is about to pay off|date = May 28, 2018}} In 24 starts between the two clubs, he was 6–9 with a 3.69 ERA.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/trevor-stephan-663986|title=Trevor Stephan Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=December 31, 2018}} Stephan returned to Trenton to begin 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.goerie.com/sports/20190404/seawolves-watch-erie-to-open-vs-trenton-thunder|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031173202/http://www.goerie.com/sports/20190404/seawolves-watch-erie-to-open-vs-trenton-thunder|archive-date=2020-10-31|title=SeaWolves Watch: Erie to open vs. Trenton Thunder}} In 20 games (19 starts) between Trenton and Tampa, he accumulated a 4–7 record and 4.73 ERA with 91 strikeouts across 80 innings. Stephan did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=March 17, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

=Cleveland Indians / Guardians=

The Cleveland Indians selected Stephan from the Yankees in the Rule 5 draft on December 10, 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2020/12/cleveland-indians-select-rhp-tyler-stephan-from-yankees-in-rule-5-draft-lose-prospects-luis-oviedo-kaai-tom.html|title = Cleveland Indians select RHP Trevor Stephan from Yankees in Rule 5 Draft; lose prospects Luis Oviedo, Ka'ai Tom|date = December 10, 2020}} He made Cleveland's 2021 Opening Day roster{{Cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/03/oscar-mercado-optioned-to-triple-a-rhp-trevor-stephan-told-he-will-make-cleveland-indians-roster.html|title=Oscar Mercado optioned to Triple-A; RHP Trevor Stephan told he will make Cleveland Indians' roster|date=March 21, 2021}} and made his MLB debut on April 3. In 43 appearances during his rookie campaign, Stephan logged a 3-1 record and 4.41 ERA with 75 strikeouts across {{fraction|63|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=Trevor Stephan 2021 pitching Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/41003/year/2021/category/pitching|access-date=June 1, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}

In 2022, Stephan made 66 appearances out of the bullpen for Cleveland, compiling a 6–5 record and 2.69 ERA with 82 strikeouts and three saves over {{fraction|63|2|3}} innings, with a 1.178 WHIP.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2022.shtml|title=2022 Cleveland Guardians Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

On March 30, 2023, Stephan signed a 4-year major league contract with the Guardians worth $10 million.{{cite news |last1=Bell |first1=Mandy |title=Guardians ink Giménez, Stephan to extensions |url=https://www.mlb.com/guardians/news/andres-gimenez-extension-with-guardians |publisher=CleGuardians.com |date=March 30, 2023}} The deal includes club options for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. He made 71 appearances out of the bullpen for Cleveland, recording a 4.06 ERA with 75 strikeouts and two saves across {{fraction|68|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=2023 Cleveland Guardians Statistics|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/2023.shtml|access-date=March 17, 2024|website=baseball-reference.com|language=en}}

On March 14, 2024, it was announced that Stephan would undergo Tommy John surgery to repair his UCL, ending his season.{{Cite web|title=Guardians reliever Stephan to undergo elbow surgery|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/trevor-stephan-elbow-surgery|access-date=March 17, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}}